Distribution Roundup: Stone & Maui Team Up; Cisco Plans for Now & Later

David Eisenberg

Feb. 14, 2014 at 4:29 PM

There’s no shortage of collaboration in the craft beer business. Breweries often team up on beers that featuring the names of each company, perpetuating the idea, true or not, that camaraderie is alive and well in the world of craft.

However, not all partnerships revolve around the actual liquid inside the bottle. For Maui Brewing Co., and Stone Brewing Co., it’s about transporting the bottle to the sun-splashed beaches of Hawaii.

In addition to Stone and Maui products, the initial brand lineup will include beers from AleSmith Brewing Co., Avery Brewing Co., Bear Republic Brewing Co., The Bruery, Oskar Blues Brewery, Port Brewing Co./The Lost Abbey, Saint Archer Brewing Co., Modern Times Beer and Mother Earth Brew Co. But you can read more about that particular arrangement here.

Note that this isn’t Stone’s first foray into the distribution tier. The brewery opened Stone Distributing Co. in 2008, which itself recently brought on Ladyface Alehouse & Brasserie as a new client.

Ladyface, based out of Agoura Hills, Calif. confirmed on Facebook that its beers are “now available in limited supply from San Diego to Santa Barbara,” with an accompanying picture of a Stone truck stacked with kegs.

Across the country in Kentucky, it’s been a big week for Beer House Distributors. The company padded its portfolio with the addition of Shmaltz Brewing Co., of Clifton Park, N.Y., as well as Cisco Brewers of Nantucket, Mass.

Along with its entrance into Kentucky, Cisco is readying itself to make a number of moves, both imminent and in the future.

Mike Sheehan, brand manager for Cisco in Ohio, confirmed that the brewery will be sending its second shipment to Ohio for statewide distribution through Cavalier Distributing “within the next few weeks.”

Cisco’s entire core lineup, as well as its new Indie IPA will be available in Ohio and Kentucky, with its Island Reserves and WOODS offerings set to be “sprinkled into the shipments as well periodically.”

Sheehan cited “strong relationships” with members of Beer House and Cavalier for the brewery’s decision to enter those markets.

“We have faith in both teams to kick ass and take names and help further grow our products,” he added.

Cisco has also signed several distribution agreements in Wisconsin and Montana and is moving toward sending beer to Arizona and Texas by the end of the year.

Founded by Greg Koch and Steve Wagner in 1996, San Diego-based Stone Brewing Co. is the 9th largest craft brewer in the United States. Stone has been listed on the Inc. 500 | 5000 Fastest Growing Priv...

Breweries

Ladyface Ale Companie is the Conejo Valley's first brewery and considered one of the first revival craft breweries in Los Angeles. A warm, casual European-style brewpub, it features award-winning, han...